Martha Virginia Stanley

May 6, 1938 - September 16, 2017

Martha Virginia Stanley, daughter of Georgia Alfreda Mason and Gilbert D. Ricketts, was born on May 6th, 1938 in Federalsburg, MD. She departed this life on Saturday September 16th, 2017 at the Caroline Hospice Home in Denton, MD. Martha graduated from Lockerman High School class of 1956. Martha Stanley dedicated her life to childhood education. She enjoyed over thirty years of rewarding employment within the Caroline County Board of Education, where she helped shape the futures of Federalsburg's brightest kindergarten students. Even in retirement, cultivating young minds was a neverending passion for Martha, as evidenced by her years of work at the ABC Learning Center. In caring for her own two children, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Martha was able to fullfill her lifelong dream of establishing a loving, happy home. Martha is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 43 years, Maurice Purnell Stanley Sr.; her brother, David Lee Ricketts; her sister, Brenda Winder; and her grandson, Maurice Purnell Stanley III. Martha is survived by her two sons, Maurice Purnell Stanley Jr. and Vincent Cortez Stanley Sr.; three grandchildren, Vincent C. Stanley Jr, Khali M. Ruffin, and Cristina W. Stanley,: her stepmother, Mrs. Alice Miller; her sisters, Isabelle Whittington, Diane Thomas, Deborah Blackwell, and Charmain Hunter; her brother, Stanford G. Ricketts; sisters-in-law, Reba Magee, Daisy Bolden, Flora Fletcher, Delores Green, Lolita Stanley, and Brenda Ricketts; brothers-in-law, Marvin Santanna, Kenny Hunter, Thomas Blackwell; daughter-in-law, Debra W. Bates Stanley; granddaughter-in-law, Diana DeCampli Ruffin; seven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 12:00 Noon at Union United Methodist Church in Federalsburg with the Reverend Kevin Brummell officiating. Interment will follow at Federal Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit the church from 10:00 to 12:00.